News
Abia Election Tribunal: Uproar as Minister of Justice-Designate, Lateef Fagbemi Shows Up in Court

There was uproar in Abia State on Thursday, 17th August, 2023, as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice-Designate, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, showed up in court at the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal holden in Umuahia the Abia State capital.
Mr Fagbemi is the lead counsel to Mr Alex Otti in the cases brought by both APC and PDP challenging the declaration of Mr Alex Otti as winner of the March 18 2023 governorship election in the state.
Although Mr Fagbemi did not announce his appearance, his presence in court and his sitting with Mr Alex Otti’s lawyers was interpreted by some lawyers present as a “needless attempt to intimidate members of the tribunal”, and sent shockwaves among those present.
“After being nominated by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, screened, cleared and confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to serve as a Federal Minister, and having been assigned the portfolio of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one thought that Chief Lateef Fagbemi ought to know that he can no longer show up in court for private cases in which he has interests like that of Mr Otti”, one of the lawyers present quipped.
Another lawyer wondered “why Lawmakers appointed as ministers by President Bola Tinubu had to quit their former roles to attend Senate screening and focus on the job ahead but Fagbemi chose to cling to a private matter he was handling in court thereby casting doubts already about his impartiality as Minister of Justice. This is obviously a move to intimidate members of the tribunal”.
In their own reaction through a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Ukachukwu Chinonso and the Secretary-General, Comrade Mrs Maria Nwokoma, and made available to the media in Umuahia, the Abia Renaissance Movement, ARM, said, “Having accepted public service, we wonder why Mr Fagbemi should still concern himself with private matters.
“It is obvious that since Mr Alex Otti sensed that the plethora and quality of evidence against him at the tribunal were too weighty, he has resorted to doing everything possible to intimidate the judiciary, armtwist witnesses and misrepresent INEC.
“We urge members of the panel to remain forthright and neither be swayed nor intimidated by an appointee when they enjoy the full support and protection of the Nigerian Judicial Council, NJC, which is the only Body they are answerable to in the discharge of their duties.
“We call on Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call Mr Lateef Fagbemi to order and not allow him bring opprobrium to his administration that is still trying its best to solve the myriads of problems afflicting the nation”, the statement concluded.
News
VIDEO: Tears As Students’s Hostel Collapses

A building collapse occurred at Pentagon Lodge near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State on Friday.
Students witnessed the incident, with one student captured on video expressing concern over the lodge’s collapse, saying, “See my lodge is falling, all my properties are inside.
”A video clip of the incident, seen by Naija News House , showed the moment the three-storey building collapsed.
As of the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether there were causalities as details of the collapse are still emerging.
A student, also said that students in that particular lodge had earlier noticed the cracks on the walls and some had already moved out of the facility before the collapse.
“Only properties inside the building are likely those of students that traveled out of the town,” the source said.
Recently there were reports of building collapses in Ebonyi State, including a three-storey building under construction near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital.
In the construction building collapse, two persons were trapped and later rescued, with one labourer escaping due to stepping out to wash his hands before the collapse.
Sequel to the building collapses, the Ebonyi State government had established a special investigative committee to determine the causes of such incidents and prevent future occurrences.
The committee’s findings and recommendations aim to improve building standards and enforcement in the state.
Click here to Watch Video:
News
FG denies 12 Years Minimum Entry Age Into JSS1
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

The Federal Government has debunked a report claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.
The Ministry of Education Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, made this known via a statement issued on Friday, July 25, 2025.
Boriowo said the report was inaccurate, noting that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government policy.Boriowo stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years.
“No child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.
News
NGE Mandates Media Organizations to set up fact-check desks in the newsroom to Fight Fake News
During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

Editors under the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have resolved today to henceforth set up a fact-check desk in their various newsrooms as a measure to tackle fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
The decision was reached on the occasion of a one-day workshop organised by the European Union (EU) NGE in Lagos on Thursday.
The editors said that having a Fact-Check Desk would help media organisations verify news hints, with the view to publishing only accurate information.
Other key decisions taken at the end of the workshop include:
Media organizations should organise trainings for their newsroom managers and line editors on fact-checking.
The Guild should set up disinformation counter groups across its zonal structures, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Media organizations should collaborate and reach out to each other to verify information.
Media organisations should look at the quality of their Online Editors to ensure that experienced and well-grounded journalists man the position.
The Guild should use other of its bigger platforms to address issues bordering on fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
Mignot said that the EU was taking a multi-pronged approach to address the threats posed by misleading information, which he described as a “danger to democracy and public trust.
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